While the foolish war in Iran continues to generate the headlines, the brutal war in Ukraine seems to sadly have become forgotten. It shouldn’t be. It’s the largest and deadliest war in Europe since World War II.
It has been more than four agonizing years since Russia viciously invaded Ukraine. It had no right to do so. Ukraine is a sovereign, independent, democratic and peaceful nation. Vladimir Putin, Russia’s murderous dictator, acts like Ukraine belongs to Russia.
It does not.
Ukrainian soldiers have suffered hundreds of thousands of casualties, while tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians have been killed.
The bloodthirsty Russians have deliberately raped, tortured and massacred civilians. They have also abducted about 20,000 children, and struck hospitals and energy grids. All war crimes.
Despite all this, Donald Trump has abandoned the good and innocent people of Ukraine. His siding with the barbaric Putin is disgraceful. Perhaps the most shameful moment since Trump and JD Vance came into power, was when they berated Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in the White House for seeking assistance from the U.S.
Previous Republican presidents, such as Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush would have stood firm against the Russians, and stood strong for freedom. However, Trump has turned the Republican Party away from traditional American values and towards support of evil dictators.
“Siding with Russia is completely wrong,” Michael Southam, co-founder of F-M Volunteers for Ukraine told me. “It goes against everything we stand for.”
Michael Southam / Jim Shaw
Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine on day one of his presidency. We’re still waiting.
When the Russian invasion started, Joe Biden was president. He provided free military assistance to Ukraine and took in about 250,000 Ukrainians to the U.S. It was a humanitarian gesture to allow the Ukrainians to live safely and work for two years.
About 600 of those Ukrainians came to North Dakota.
Now, Trump charges for military assistance and is sadly kicking out the Ukrainians. Many other countries have extended work permits for Ukrainian citizens. Trump refuses to do so.
One of them is Igor, a 27-year-old trained welder, who lives in Fargo. He has declined to give his last name for security reasons.
Ukraine Igor / Jim Shaw
When the invasion started, Igor was living in Kropyvnytskyi, Ukraine, about 190 miles from Kiev. Russian rockets pounded his city. Houses were destroyed. Many people were hurt or killed.
“I was afraid I would be killed,” Igor told me.
The rockets came every day. He and other residents would receive text message warnings about two minutes before the rockets were going to hit, and they would run to the underground shelters.
“I don’t understand why they’re attacking us,” Igor said. “They had no right to attack us. It’s pretty brutal. Innocent people are getting killed.”
So, fearing for his life, Igor got a sponsor, and came to Fargo. He took a job as a welder at True North Steel in Fargo.
“It has been a good job,” Igor said. “I have been treated very well there. They even helped me learn English.”
Igor also fell in love with Fargo.
“I really like Fargo,” he said. “People are very friendly. I have made a lot of friends here.”
“Igor is a delight,” Southam told me. “He’s hard-working and determined. He’s so cheerful with a good sense of humor. He’s such a good person.”
Sadly, Igor’s work permit has expired. He has applied four times for an extension, and has been rejected all four times.
As a result, he is leaving Fargo and the U.S. in one week.
“I’m going to Poland. After that, who knows?” Igor said.
One place he will not go to now is Ukraine.
“There’s a lack of food, heat and electricity there,” Igor said. “It’s also very dangerous. I could be killed.”
“I’m heartsick that he has to leave,” Southam said. “He should be allowed to stay. His employer badly needs him and he’s contributing here. It’s not safe for him to return to Ukraine. America is a big country. We should be leading the world in helping Ukrainians.”
He’s right. True North Steel desperately needs welders, and Ukrainians have significantly helped fill that void.
Beyond that, it’s heartbreaking to see him go. It’s inhumane. There was a time when the U.S. was a safe haven for people fleeing wars, while making a major contribution to our workforce. Sadly, the U.S. can no longer call itself the leader of the free world.
“I work hard, pay taxes, and I’m a law-abiding citizen,” Igor said. “I was working at a place that needs me. Now, I’m very sad. I can’t sleep. I don’t know my next steps.”
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